(10) 穗花杉
Amentotaxus argotaenia (Hance) Pilg.
三尖杉科 (Cephalotaxaceae)
英文名 (English name): Amentotaxus
Status in China: Vulnerable (VU). Recorded in China Plant Red Data Book and Illustrations of Rare and Endangered plant in Guangdong Province.
Description: Shrubs or small trees to 7 m high. Branchlets green in the current year, the older ones greenish yellow to yellowish red. Leaves twisted at base, arranged in 2 rows, linear or linear-lanceolate, straight or slightly falcate , 3-11 cm long, 6-11 mm wide, apex acute or obtuse, base cuneate or broadly cuneate, margin slightly revolute, with 2 white stomatal bands on abaxial surface; petiole very short or subsessile. Pollen-cone 5-6.5 cm long, 1-3 (usually 2) borne together, each stamens with 2-5 (usually 3) anthers; seed cones in leaf axil or bract axil, bracts ca. 6-10 pairs, opposite, ovule solitary. Arils bright red when ripe; seed red when matured, ellipsoid, 2-2.5 cm long, 1.3 cm wide, with small, mucronulate apex.
Distribution: Ma On Shan, Tai Mo Shan, Mount Parker, Sunset Peak, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung. Fujian, S Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, W Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, NW Jiangxi, C and SE Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Xizang, S Zhejiang; N Vietnam.
Habitat and ecology: In forests of valleys or by streams, alt. 300-1100 m; pollination: Apr.; seed maturity: Oct.
Its fine-grained wood is used for carving. The beautiful tree-shape and dark green leaves make it an attractive ornamental tree. Phytogeographically, the plant is rather rare and restricted to China and northern Vietnam and is thus of special botanical interest. The plant grows very slowly. Natural reproduction takes place by seeds, which have a dormant period and are easily damaged by insects and rodents. In Hong Kong, all the localities of its occurrence are within Country Parks under protection. This species is also protected by the Forestry Regulations (Cap. 96 sub. leg.). A living specimen is displayed in the Shing Mun Arboretum.
References:
傅立國, 1992: 中國植物紅皮書1：134-135。科學出版社，北京。
Fu, L. K. et al., 1999: Flora of China 4: 93. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.